The Puma GT was originally designed by an Italian,
Rino Malzoni who lived and worked in Brazil. Based on VW running
gear he designed a very pretty sports car. Volkswagen do Brazil
had no qualms about selling parts and subassemb''es to Puma whose
factory produ,°.d about 30 units a month. The SOULh African
connection started when a businessman called Vic Borcherds became
aware of thc. Brazilian Puma. As South Africa was already producing
the Beetle with many local parts and assemblies. Vic reasoned that
he could produce the cars in South Africa. He imported a Burnt orange
coloured Puma to test the market. Unfortunately the quality of Brazilian
tires was so bad that he lost control during a rainstorm and wrapped
the car around an Armco barrier. It is not clear whether he imported
other examples as well. As the Brazilian puma was based on the wider
Karmann Ghia chassis, the body was redesigned by Puma Brazil. A brand new beetle chassis was purchased
and sent to Brazil for the moulds. A few months later the car arrived
at the docks in Durban. My Uncle Abel Pienaar was by that stage
heavily involved in the negotiations and setting up of the South
African assembly plant.He took Vic to the Docks to pick up the new
car. On the way home He followed Vic, at an intersection He saw
the Puma's brake lights come on but no stopping of the car. At the
next moment he saw Vic pull in at a Tire dealer where the Puma's
tires were swapped for a set of Dunlop sports tires. Vic then told
my Uncle that the car skidded over the intersection as he applied
the brakes. This first Puma allegedly the first right hand drive
Puma in the world was painted a bright blue metallic and looked
really stunning. This car differed from later Pumas in that the
Chassis was fitted higher into the body than later Puma's thus restricting
headroom by about 50mm.